Thangam Debbonaire
MP
Member of Parliament
for Bristol West
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded by Stephen Williams
Majority 37,336 (52.1%)
Personal details
Born Thangam Elizabeth Rachel Singh
(1966-08-03) 3 August 1966 (age 57)
Website Official website


Thangam Rachel Debbonaire (3 August 1966). Debbonaire was a professional cellist, and has also worked as National Research Manager for domestic violence charity Respect. She became Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol West at the 2015 General Election, when she defeated the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams. Shortly after winning Bristol West, Debbonaire was diagnosed with breast cancer,and did not attend a Parliamentary vote from June 2015 until March 2016.

In January 2016, she started to plan a phased return to Westminster from February, and was appointed as shadow minister for Culture, Media and Sport until resigning on 27 June 2016. She rejoined his front bench team as a whip in October that year.

Parliamentary career

Debbonaire was elected as the MP for Bristol West in May 2015, and was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks afterwards. Debbonaire said she never doubted that she would return to Parliament and credited listening to classical music with helping her recovery. She subsequently called on Parliament to allow for MPs to vote remotely after she was unable to participate in votes during her recovery.

During her treatment period she was appointed as Shadow Culture Minister by Jeremy Corbyn.

On 12 October 2016, Debbonaire accepted an appointment as a shadow whip in Corbyn's front bench team.